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The Cross and the Resurrection

Submitted By: Hal Warren

Remember the cross and the resurrection together. Sort of like having to have both wires to get the power to flow to a light bulb. We need the legal deliverance from sin at the cross (the black wire) and the power of the resurrection (the white wire) in order to let our lights shine!

Charismatics tend to overemphasize the resurrection and evangelicals the cross. Both not in balance and even when the cross is taught as the place where our sin debt was paid; it is omitted that it was the place where we died to sin as well (Romans 6). Unfortunately, without this knowledge we are doomed to be slaves to sin (i.e., slaves to Satan - even when born again!).

NAU John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

NKJ Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

NAU Romans 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

We not only need to see Jesus on the Cross taking our sin away but us there with Him - in Him. That old flesh nature was nailed to the cross in Him!

NAU Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

So the next time you are tempted to sin visualize that part of the body tempting you nailed to the cross! Yes, drive those spikes all the way through to the cross in your mind. Yes, it hurts so good! Then declare that you are dead to this temptation. Keep that mental picture and confession until the temptation passes.

NAU 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

Yep, since Jesus died for all - we are all dead to sin!!! Therefore, dead to Satan who is SIN himself!!

NAU Romans 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,

NAU Romans 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

That is the only way that we can live out these verses:

NAU 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
NAU 1 John 3:6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
NAU 1 John 5:18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

This is not saying that we will never sin in this lifetime, but rather we will not have a pattern, practice or lifestyle of sin. Furthermore, we should see a decreasing frequency of sin from year to year as we mature in Christ to the point that "sins on purpose" become the exception and not the rule.

NAU 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

In light of these truths we need to help our brothers and sisters overcome sin.

NAU 1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.

If we see our brother or sister sinning then we are not to prey on them via gossip but rather pray for them that God would give them an opportunity to repent (i.e., give life to them). For the pattern from Jesus - on the cross Jesus forgives them for they did not know what they were doing and on Pentecost they are given an "opportunity" to repent via Peter's fiery message. We are not to judge! We are to pour forth Grace and Mercy in Compassion (like our GMC God) for those we see in sin!

NAU James 5:20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

NAU Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.